What you need to know about NCLEX

Science is very important in our industry. They created medicine to fight detestable diseases that had no cure long before this time. Truly, we’re advancing in the field of medicine but it didn’t stop every organization to make sure that everything can be treated and improve our life. These days, viruses and diseases seem to find a way to develop new variants that cause fear. Thankfully, all the medical and healthcare professionals didn’t stop to find a cure and provide service to people.

To continuously ensure the safety of the well-being of everyone that needs medical care and attention, the NCLEX is developed by The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to test the competency of the nursing school graduate. This helps to ensure that they are ready to apply what they acquired at school and also be able to perform what they’ve learned perfectly. Here are some things that you need to know about NCLEX.

Two Types of NCLEX

NCLEX-PN

Your skills and understanding of the fundamental abilities necessary to enter the area of practical nursing safely will be assessed by the NCLEX-PN exam. The exam is updated every three years to make sure it reflects the most recent developments in the nursing field and the medical industry.

NCLEX-RN

The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN, is an examination that assesses the application and analysis of what you learned in nursing school. You will be tested on how you can use critical thinking skills to make the appropriate judgments that you have to perform as a nurse. Its main purpose is to determine if it’s safe for you to begin practicing as an entry-level nurse.

Four Areas of Practice

Safe and effective care environment

This is the first category that is required for the client’s needs. This includes two concepts:

Care Management covers 17-23% of questions on the NCLEX-RN examination. Some of the nursing actions include Advance Directives, Advocacy, Case Management, Client Rights, Concepts of Management, Confidentiality, Continuity of Care, Quality Improvement, Delegation, Establishing Priorities, Ethical Practice, Informed Consent, Legal Responsibilities, Referrals, and supervision.
Safety and infection control covers 9-15% of the exam questions. It includes Accident Prevention, Error Prevention, Hazardous Materials, Surgical Asepsis, Standard Precautions, and Use of Restraints.

Health promotion and maintenance

This is the second in the Client Needs Category. It accounts for 6-12% of the exam. This includes the Aging Process, Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care, Developmental Stages and Transitions, Disease Prevention, Health Screening, Lifestyle Choices, Physical Assessment Techniques, Health Promotion Programs, High-Risk Behaviours, and Self-Care.

Psychosocial integrity

This is the third in this category. It covers 6-12% of the exam. The actions that are tested in this category are Coping Mechanisms, Grief and Loss, Mental Health Concepts, Spiritual Influence on Health, Sensory/Perceptual Alterations, Stress Management, Support Systems, Therapeutic Communication, Chemical Dependency, Behavioural Interventions, Crisis Intervention, Coping Mechanisms, End of Life care, and Family Dynamics.

Physiological integrity

The Final category includes four concepts.

Basic Care and Comfort make up 6-12% of the examination. This includes Assistive Devices, Elimination, Mobility, Nonpharmacological Comfort Interventions, Nutrition and Oral Hydration, Personal Hygiene, as well as Rest and Sleep.
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies make up 12-18% of the NCLEX-RN exam. The tested nursing actions include Adverse Effects, Contraindications, Blood and Blood Products, Central Venous Access Devices, Chemotherapy, Expected Effects, Intravenous Therapy, Medication Administration, Pharmacological Pain Management, Total Parental Nutrition, and Dosage Calculation.
Risk Potential Reduction covers 9-15% of the exam. It includes Diagnostic Tests, Laboratory Values, Potential for Complications from Surgical Procedures and Health Alterations, as well as Therapeutic Procedures.
Physiological Adaptation makes up 11-17% of the examination. It includes Alterations in the Body Systems, Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances, Hemodynamics, Medical Emergencies, Pathophysiology, and Unexpected Response to Therapies.

Five things you need to prepare before taking the NCLEX

You will need authorization to take the exam

You will be given an ATT once you have finished the Self Check on the APHRA website and submitted all of your certified papers in the Portfolio Stage. You can set the examination date and time once you have received an ATT or permission to test. Testing is offered all year long.

Understand the test format

The format of the NCLEX exam involves random questions. This means that the questions are adjusted by the computer, based on the test-taker’s performance. Most of the time, the first question is easy. If you answered the question correctly, the computer will choose a slightly more difficult question. If you answered incorrectly, the computer selects a slightly easier question. There are several questions, around 74-145, on the NCLEX-RN exam. It has 15 pre-test questions in all, and they are not included in the test-takers’ final results. The NCLEX-PN has 85-205 questions, 25 of which are not scored. They allocated five hours for each exam. A significant portion of the multiple-choice questions on the NCLEX exam consists of worded solutions.

You will have two chances for optional breaks during the exam:

The exam has one break available after two hours.
After 3.5 hours into the test, you are allowed to take a second break.
Once you have correctly answered the necessary number of questions to pass the NCLEX-PN exam, the test will automatically end.

Expect a variety of question types

In order to pass, you must ultimately exceed the pass line that demonstrates competency with marginal doubt. The test can end anywhere between questions 75 and 265 or at the allotted time limit or at the maximum time allowance of 6 hours.

Attempting to analyze oneself while taking an exam is not helpful. Don’t assume that you are below pass level just because you answered a few “easy” questions in a row. Just pay attention to the immediate issues. What is simple to you may be difficult for someone else. Each query is as significant as the next. It’s all about endurance on this test. Prepare to sit the entire time, you won’t feel stressed if you do.

There are numerous question categories, but most questions are multiple-choice with four possible answer choices. Some examples of alternative question types are multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, hot spots, chart/exhibit, and drag-and-drop. Every question incorporates nursing-related material.

Three different types of questions on the NCLEX are intended to evaluate applicants and encourage them to assess their critical thinking abilities in the wider setting of nursing practice. The first category consists of general knowledge questions, which are frequently given as multiple-choice questions. The next round of questions includes analysis and application and may include charts, tables, or graphic illustrations. The most challenging questions are those in level three, and in order to find the appropriate responses, students must apply facts, procedures, and rules. They are frequently presented in an open-ended format. The majority of the questions should fall within categories two and three.

Know your learning and study style

An essential part of getting ready for the NCLEX is realizing what learning style works best for you. While some people might prefer to study alone or with flashcards, others might perform better in a group or with more interactive exercises. Look at various study techniques to see which one suits you the best.

Here are some advice for studying:

Taking a few practice exams in advance is one of the best ways to make sure you ace the NCLEX. There are several trustworthy online sites for study materials and sample NCLEX test questions. Once you have a nice collection of printed and online resources, think about creating a study schedule that includes a good mix of reading material, practice exams, and enough downtime in between to give you the mental energy you need to retain as much information as possible.
While some test takers prefer to incorporate studying into their daily routines, others prefer to study in intense, short bursts.
It might be a good idea to study along with a friend from the group who is also getting ready for the test. Even though preparation requires a lot of work, studying with a partner can be beneficial and even enjoyable. Even though you can’t take the test together, having two heads will help you memorize material more effectively than having just one, and your unique strengths can complement each other’s limitations.
Those who struggle to schedule study time in between other commitments may find benefit from the disciplined nature of an NCLEX preparation course. There are several possibilities for prep courses, both online and in classrooms, if you learn best in an organized atmosphere. NCLEX preparation classes are expensive, although you can find affordable but proven courses that will help you prepare for NCLEX like AuRNPathway. For many students, the security that comes with an organized study environment makes the investment worthwhile. Students who didn’t take the test right after graduation or who didn’t schedule it can also benefit greatly from prep classes. Much of the knowledge tested on the NCLEX may still be fresh in your mind if you recently graduated from your nursing program. If it has been some time since you graduated, a prep course will assist you in refreshing your memory of the material. You can save yourself the time you would have spent organizing your study materials and old notes by taking an organized preparation course.

Remember the ABCs

A mnemonic called “the ABCs of nursing” aids nurses in recalling the most important steps to take when prioritizing patient care. Airway, breathing, and circulation are commonly referred to as the ABCs. This acronym enables nurses to concentrate on the most important tasks required to guarantee a patient’s well-being.

Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients have a patent airway, which is an airway that is free from obstruction. Problems with the patient’s airways that prohibit them from breathing or getting enough oxygen are referred to as airway difficulties. The patient’s breathing airways become constricted, obstructed, or swollen as a result of these obstructions. Additionally, they must make sure the patient is breathing properly (getting enough oxygen into the lungs and body and expending CO2). Importantly, breathing problems can arise even when there are no physical obstructions or occlusions in the airway. Finally, nurses need to guarantee that the patient has a healthy circulation and blood flow. Numerous complications, such as physical occlusions, blood clots, diabetes, obesity, anemia, hemoglobin problems, etc., can cause circulatory problems. In general, decreased blood flow is a result of inadequate blood circulation. Physical pain, cramps in the muscles, numbness, and tingling/stinking aches might result from this. Each element is crucial to the survival and well-being of a patient.

These are some of the things that you must know. It’s important to know every concept before you venture a new road.

Examinations help us test our knowledge and capabilities. Tests, like NCLEX, allow us to improve and give us confidence in our field. This examination is important to assess and measure our capabilities and to give us a way to improve ourselves. Do not see this as a burden, but instead, an opportunity to hone our skills before we take another step where people are counting on a safe and trustworthy service.

Let AuRNPathway help you pass your NCLEX

Here at AuRNPathway, we are confident that we can help you pass your NCLEX. We collated the opinions of NCLEX Passers and implemented these on our NCLEX Review Program. With us, you may avail of a Question Bank & Online Portal Only Package or a Full NCLEX Review with access to our Online Portal and 16-week classes and review to polish what you learn from our portal.